Fall brings with it crisp air, gorgeous colors, and a renewed holiday spirit. It also brings new outdoor chores and responsibilities, including picking up fallen leaves, cleaning the gutters, and much more.

If you’ve got a yard that needs attention but you’re not sure where to start, this quick guide will help. It’s filled with seven expert tips to maintain your yard, and enjoy fall to the fullest. Brought to you by NSA Storage, If that sounds like the info you need today, read on!

Is Yard Maintenance Important?

Cleaning up your yard for fall isn’t just for outward appearances, it’s also important for your home and safety. For example, leaves can build up and clog your gutters, causing drainage problems and water damage.

Those same leaves can damage your lawn, and create risky slip and fall hazards. Cleaning your yard now can prevent these problems, and several others, including:

• Preventing mold and mildew
• Stopping many types of lawn diseases
• Keeping pests, including insects, squirrels, moles, rats, and more, from nesting in your yard
• Making it easier to get rid of snow when it starts falling
• Protecting your plants and trees during the winter

In short, if you maintain your yard now, you can prevent all sorts of problems, issues, and expensive repairs later.

1. Mow Your Lawn One Last Time

Gras will keep growing into mid-fall in many places. Lawn experts recommend mowing it one last time before winter arrives. Below are a few other tips to keep your grass in good shape until next year:

• Sharpen the blades on your mower first for a clean cut
• Cut your grass lower than usual (about 2 inches)
• Mow when the grass is dry for less mess and easier removal

Mowing one last time reduces the risk that mold will form over the winter. It also improves the air circulation at ground level, which is healthier for your grass.

2. Clean All Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters are an important part of your home. They protect it from water runoff that can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your roof, foundation, siding, and more. Before the weather turns too cold:

• Using gloves, scoop out leaves, twigs, pine cones, dirt, and debris
• Flush your gutters with water to make sure the downspouts are clear
• If possible, add gutter guards to prevent future clogs

Clean your gutters before leaves start falling en-masse. Then, before winter starts, clean them out again. If you can, clean off your roof, also, to remove stuff that might get washed into your gutters later.

3. Store Outdoor Furniture, Tools, and Toys for Winter

Cold weather, including rain, sleet, snow, and ice, can damage and even destroy things left outdoors. Better to take everything inside and store it well for next year. For example;

• Disconnect and store garden hoses
• Stack outdoor furniture neatly in your garage or shed
• Put summer toys together in a large container like a plastic bin
• Put a cover on your barbecue or, even better, move it into the shed or garage
• Put all garden tools away in a cool, dry spot

4. Trim Plants, Trees, and Shrubs

Not only do untrimmed, overgrown plants make your yard look messy, they’re very attractive to critters of all kinds. To keep your yard looking good and keep those critters away, trim back now, including:

• Remove dead flowers and stems
• Any trees and shrubs that touch your home should be trimmed far back
• Cut any perennials down to a few inches off the ground
• Cut dead limbs from trees. Snow could cause them to fall during winter.

5. Rake and Remove Leaves Early and Regularly

One of the biggest chores many homeowners face every autumn is removing fallen leaves from their yard. It’s a big, messy, tiring task, but there are a few things you can do to make it easier:

• Clean up leaves every week until most have fallen
• Rake or blow leaves only when they’re dry
• Consider a mulching leaf sweeper, which will significantly reduce the number of leaf bags you need
• Never rake leaves into a storm drain, which can cause flooding during heavy rains

6. Prepare Your Garden for Winter

If you have a garden you’ll need to prep it for winter, also. Here’s how:

• Remove weeds as well as you can
• Get rid of dead and rotting plants
• Add a layer of mulch to insulate your garden’s soil
• If you live where snow gets heavy, cover your garden with a tarp or burlap

7. Keep Walkways and Driveways Cleared

One of the most common risks you’ll face in fall and winter is slipping on sidewalks and driveways. The cold, of course, can be problematic, with ice being the biggest problem. However, leaf piles can also be very slippery when wet. To prevent slips and falls:

• Sweep or blow all walkways and your driveway as often as needed
• A leaf blower will make this chore easier and faster
• Trim back any bushes or hedges that butt up against walkways
• Get rock salt now for use later when snow starts falling

Helpful Tools for Fall Yard Cleaning

It takes more than a little time and effort to maintain your yard in the fall. To cut down on both, consider having the following tools on-hand:

• Large rake
• Leaf blower
• Lawn mower with “mulching” feature
• Leaf bags
• Compost bin
• Trimmer for weeds
• Edger for walkway and driveway edges
• Gutter scoop

Get Ready for the New Season with NSA Storage

By using the tips provided today, your yard will stay clean during winter and be ready to go next spring! In most cases, it’s simply a matter of regular clean-up until the leaves stop falling.

Some folks might do well to reserve a storage unit and store their summer things until next season. If that’s you, NSA Storage offers clean, secure storage units across the United States. 

You can reserve a storage unit today and start using it right away to maintain your yard and keep your home pristine. Until then, best of luck cleaning up your yard and have a wonderful fall and winter season!